11 New Faces Bolster Sparks in Upcoming UFL Cup

With only three days remaining before the Loyola Meralco Sparks play their opener against Ceres-La Salle, the club’s supporters can expect quite a few new faces take the field. A total of 11 players have been added to the roster: two goalkeepers, one defender, five midfielders, and three forwards. Eight of the new players are Filipino recruits, while three hail from either Japan or Spain.
While Jason de Jong, a UFL Cup and League champion, and Philippine National Team player, is the most high profile of the new signings, the Sparks have also injected plenty of other young Filipino talent to the squad.
There is a new University of the Philippines influence on the team, with four of the new players still involved with the school: Daniel Gadia, Ian Clarino, Ace Villanueva, and the returning Anto Gonzales, who coaches the team. Jinggoy Valmayor is the fifth of the UP boys, having just recently ended his collegiate career with the Fighting Maroons.
Arnel Amita of FEU represents another collegiate standout, while Filipino-Japanese teenager Kouchi Belgira adds more young talent to the squad.
Meanwhile, Spanish forward Alvaro Castiella, Japanese midfielder Akira Miyayama, and Japanese-Brazilian Guilherme Hasegawa round out the last of the new faces.
Here’s a complete list of new recruits for the upcoming 2016 UFL Cup:
1. Guilherme Hasegawa (Japanese) – Goalkeeper
2.  Ace Villanueva (Filipino) – Goalkeeper
3. Ian Clarino (Filipino) – Defender
4. Jason de Jong (Filipino) – Midfielder
5. Anto Gonzales (Filipino) – Midfielder
6. Arnel Amita (Filipino) – Midfielder
7. Akira Miyayama (Japanese) – Midfielder
8. Kouchi Belgira (Filipino) – Midfielder
9. Daniel Gadia (Filipino) – Forward / Midfielder
10. Jinggoy Valmayor (Filipino) – Forward
11. Alvaro Castiella (Spanish) – Forward

http://onemeralcosports.com/loyola-sparks/11-new-faces-bolster-sparks-in-upcoming-ufl-cup/

Former Azkals coach Simon Mcmenemy aims for club success with Loyola Meralco Sparks

AFTER a short stint with the Philippine men’s football team four years ago, Simon McMenemy is back and ready to stay for the long haul at club level in the United Football League. The Scottish mentor who steered the Azkals to a historic semifinal finish in the 2010 Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup and sparked the renaissance in the sport in the country, has returned to handle the star-studded Loyola Meralco club.   

A lack of license to manage a national team barred him from getting a contract extension with the Philippines and his coaching journey brought him to club teams in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Maldives. Now McMenemy is back in the country to lead the Sparks starting with the UFL season that kicks off on Saturday with the Football Alliance League Cup. “It genuinely is quite a humbling experience to come back and have people tell you that you were a major reason why football is the way it is now,” Mcmenemy said on Tuesday at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum where he was formally introduced. “I’ve learned a huge amount in the last four years and I’m totally a different person than I was four years ago,” the 36-year-old coach said. “What I bring here is experience.”

 Mcmenemy takes over from Vince Santos, who guided the Sparks to a breakthrough title in the 2013 UFL Cup before they ended up as bridesmaids to Global FC in the League wars. “There’s a great motivation for us to do well this year and I’m very keen to see these guys play,” the Mcmenemy said. With stars Phil and James Younghusband, Matthew Hartmann, and Simon Greatwich re-signing and a key local acquisitions in Anton del Rosario, Eddie Mallari in the side that still has Lee Joo Young, Joaco Canas, Baba Sampana, Roxy Dorlas, Sam Bonney, and Fred Gonzalez, Mcmenemy believes he has the material to sustain the gains the team has made. “I think we have the best squad in the league,” he declared less than a month into the job. 

“There’s a great crop of young and experienced Filipino players.” The Sparks also have international signings in Pedro Marenco, Max Wright, Jamal Fenelon, Charlie Beaton, Brian Fredrick, Josh Grommen, Jorrel Aristorenas, and Reuben Silitonga. 

Read more at: http://www.spin.ph/football/ufl/news/ex-azkals-coach-simon-mcmenemy-loyola-meralco-sparks-ufl-philippine-football

Simon Mc Menemy new Loyola Meralco Sparks coach !

Ex Azkals coach Simon Mc Menemy is officially new Loyola Meralco Sparks coach

SPARKS’ TEST FOR LAOTIAN GIANTS

Loyola Meralco Sparks (PHI) vs SHB Champasak (LAO)

(June 1, Sunday, 7.30pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

Written by: Khalis Rifhan

Philippines’ outfit Loyola Meralco Sparks will be keen to better their previous two appearances in the RHB Singapore Cup as they take on Laotian’s giants SHB Champasak in the preliminary round at Jalan Besar Stadium.

Sparks’ debut in the competition two years ago saw them finishing in fourth spot, losing to Gombak United in the 3rd and 4th placing match. A year ago, they were unfortunate to be knocked out in the quarter finals 4-5 on aggregate after an intriguing against eventual finalist Tanjong Pagar United over two legs.

Their opponents in their campaign opener is Champasak who won the 2013 Lao Premier League, their first major trophy in their club’s history.

Champasak is currently second in the domestic league, levelled on 22 points with leaders HA-Attapeu FC who have a superior goal difference.

Leading the Laotian at the back is 22-year old Ketsada Souksavanh who scored for Laos national team in their 1-3 defeat to Singapore a year ago.

In midfield, they will rely heavily on Michael Bernard Segun (Nigeria) and Imbem Itubu (Congo) to provide stability and also creativity. The duo will also be responsible to provide the ammunitions to their strikers, Daniel Obo (Ghana) and Elenildo de Jesus (Brazil).

Bernard has been on scoring form of late as he snatch a hat-trick in their win over Yotha while midfielders Khonesavanh Thongchaleune and Sakda Luangsombath have put on a decent performance in their recent climb up the league table.

For Loyola coach Vincent Santos, he will be hoping that their Philippines internationals James Younghusband, Philip Younghusband and Simon Greatwich make it back in time from international duty for the match.

The trio was with the Azkals in the AFC Challenge Cup in Maldives, where they narrowly lost to Palestine 1-0 in the final on 30 May, with the winner of the tournament gaining a berth in the prestigious AFC Asian Cup next year in Australia.

But even without the Younghusbands and Greatwich, there is enough depth for Santos. Upfront they can count on former internationals Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Gonzalez who scored a hat-trick against Army FC in the United Football League.

At the centre of the park, Sparks boasted an impressive quartet of Matthew Hartmann, Bo Bae Park, Joo Young Lee (both South Korea) and Joaquin Canas (Spain).

While the Laotians will try their best to squeeze through to the quarter-finals, it will be a test of not only their physical strength but also their level of fitness.

Loyola Meralco Sparks’ Squad for 2014 RHB Singapore Cup

Goalkeeper: Ricardo Padilla Jr., Baba Sampana (Ghana)

Defenders: Samuel Bonney (Ghana), Alexandro Elnar, Armand Del Rosario, Peter Fadrigalan, Roxy Dorlas. 

Midfielders: Matthew Hartmann, James Younghusband, Bo Bae Park (Korea), Simon Greatwich, Joaquin Canas (Spain), Paolo Bugas, Arnel Amita, Joo Young Lee (Korea), Angelou Jurao.

Forwards: Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Gonzalez, Philip Younghusband, Robert Canedo, Graham Edward Caygill.

SHB Champasak’s Squad for 2014 RHB Singapore Cup

Goalkeepers: Somsay Ounnalay, Nguyen Tien Anh (Vietnam).

Defenders: Bounthavee Phommasith, Ketsada Souksavanh, Oudomsith Singlatsomboun, Sonxay Simoulay, Vixay Khamxomphou, Xaybandith Sombatdouang.

Midfielders: Khonesavanh Thongchaleune, Sakda Luangsombath, Soulinthone Simmavong, Thatsadaphone Vorladed, Xam Sengmany, Michael Bernard Segun (Nigeria), Imbem Itubu (Congo).

Forwards: Sangvonne Phimmasen, Daniel Obo (Ghana), Elenildo de Jesus (Brazil)

sleague.com

Feeling of helplessness as injured Phil Younghusband rues Loyola setback

by Karlo Sacamos

LOYOLA Meralco star Phil Younghusband rued the missed opportunity to help the Sparks, who ended up bowing to Global FC, 1-2, in the United Football League on Tuesday night at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig.

The Sparks striker felt helpess staying on the sidelines with a groin (adductor pull) injury as he saw his team surrender an early lead to Global in perhaps the most important game of the season.

“It’s hard to watch when you feel you can do something in the game,” Younghusband said in a chat with Spin.ph after the game. “You want to come on, but you can’t.”

Instead of making the title race more interesting, the Sparks allowed Global to pull away further from the rest of the UFL field and move nearer to the league championship.

“It’s another setback, but we just have to keep working hard, keep making sure we win our remaining games,” said Younghusband, who still believes the season is far from decided.

“It’s never over. There are a few games to go. There could be still some more upsets, so we still feel we may have a say, whether we affect it for Global or Kaya.”

In his absence, brother and right winger James was thrust up front to provide the scoring punch, which the elder Younghusband did, opening the scoring 33 minutes into the game off a rebound.

After scoring the goal, James taunted Global goalkeeper Roland Sadia, which, Global coach Leigh Manson felt, rallied his troops.

“I just did that (gesture) because he smacked me in the face during the first corner,” Younghusband insisted.

“But we kissed and made up,” he added. “Obviously it was in the heat of the moment after getting the goal. I was a bit lucky to get the goal. I was just upset he smacked me in the face right before that.”

As a result, Global mounted a comeback behind old reliables Misagh Bahadoran and Izzo El-Habbib.

“We worked hard, but we ran out of steam,” Younghusband said. “Obviously Global’s impact subs made the difference.”

spin.ph

Loyola Meralco faces acid test in Kaya FC

From Karlo Sacamos

LOYOLA Meralco faces an acid test in Kaya FC on Tuesday night when the two title contenders collide in the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium in Mckinley Hill.
In a marquee matchup nearing the end of the first round of hostilities, the league-leading Sparks take on a Kaya side that’s starting to realize its full potential in the 7:30 p.m. affair.
Despite coming off a 2-1 win over Pachanga, Loyola appears to be a pale shadow of its true self when it started the tournament with five straight wins.
Kaya, on the other hand, is riding the momentum a three-game winning streak and is oozing with confidence following a 9-1 rout against Philippine Army last Thursday.
 “These are the games that the fans like to see,” Kaya coach David Perkovic said. "It’s a battle of men, a battle of mind.”
A victory for third-running Kaya vaults the squad to second spot ahead of Global.
“We’ll get to see where we’re at,” the Australian mentor added. “It’ll give us an insight where we’re traveling in the league.”
Green Archers United squares off against Pacahanga earlier at 5:15 p.m.

spin

Menpora Cup : Persepam Madura United 1-3 Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc

Menpora Cup  : Persepam Madura United (Indonesia) vs Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc  , 4.30 pm

Livestream : http://okezone.tv/streaming/3

Arema 4-1 Mitra Kukar

Menpora Cup : Arema Malang 1-0 Loyola FC

Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc playing in Menpora Cup today vs Arema Malang (Indonesia ) 7.30 pm

Livestream link :   http://okezone.tv/streaming/3 choose MNC tv

Starting XI for the Sparks: Baba, Joaco, Bonney, Dorlas, Greatwich, JYH, W.H. Lee, Park, Hartmann, J.Y. Lee, PYH


22 min 1-0 Arema
1-0 FT

Loyola signs Spanish Defender Joaco from Stallion

Karl Decena, InterAKTV 

While star striker Rufo Sanchez is still the subject of o tug-of-war between two squads, the other half of Stallion Sta. Lucia’s Spanish duo has found a new home.

Defending United Football League champion Stallion released top defender Joaco Cañas to the Loyola Meralco Sparks, both teams announced on Wednesday.

“We will be signing Joaco. We agreed with Stallion this (Wednesday) evening on the transfer,” Sparks Vice Chairman Randy Roxas told InterAKTV.

Roxas said that Cañas will be a big boost to the Sparks, especially on the defensive end where Loyola has had issues during the past two seasons that saw finish third each time.

“Joaco is a quality player and a professional. He will give us more options on our backline,” Roxas said.

Aside from Cañas, Loyola also secured the services of former Stallion players forward Lee Joo Young and midfielder Lee Won Hyung.

Cañas arrived in the country to join Stallion last year together with fellow Spanish player Sanchez, his teammate in Spain’s third division side CF Internacional de Madrid.

They helped Stallion win the Cup and League titles last season.

Cañas expressed on Twitter his excitement to join the Sparks.

“I am happy to announce that i will be @MeralcoSparks player this coming season. Really excited to wear my new jersey soon,” Cañas wrote on his account.

Interaksyon

Loyola adds Lee, Canedo to squad

Loyola beefed up its roster just before starting its UFL pre-season campaign.

Korean winger Lee Joo Young and Robert Cañedo join the Sparks from Stallion and Pachanga, respectively.

Both players are expected to play key attacking roles for the Sparks who finished the league last season in third spot.

Lee was instrumental to Stallion's Cup and League triumph last season, while Cañedo, an attacking midfielder scored three  goals for Pachanga.

Paolo Bugas, a standout from the Under-19 ranks, was also elevated to the senior team after impressing during the Singapore Cup quarterfinal tie against Tanjong Pagar United.

Loyola Fc website

Loyola Meralco Sparks in Indonesian tournament

MENPORA Cup

Bandung Group (Si Jalak Harupat Stadium)

Persib
Sriwijaya
Central Coast Mariners
Malaysia Under 23

Malang Group (Kanjuruhan Stadium)

Arema
Persepam MU
Loyola Meralco
Mitra Kukar

Competition runs from 20-28 September and the final will be in Malang featuring the winners of each group.

Jakarta Casual

Sparks fall short of bid for a return trip in Singapore Cup semis

Karlo Sacamos

A resilient Loyola Meralco side fell short of realizing a return trip to the Singapore Cup semifinals as it settled for a 3-3 draw against Tanjong Pagar United on Sunday night at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Aching to bounce back from a 2-1 loss in the first leg of the quarterfinals, the Sparks played with a sense of urgency, but failed to escape some questionable costly card bookings that left them undermanned most of the game and ultimately lost on aggregate.

The Filipino booters’ ouster denied the chance of an all-Filipino clash in the semis of the annual invitational participated by top Singapore League sides and some Southeast Asian neighbors.

The Sparks could’ve faced United Football League rival Global FC, which beat DPMM, 5-4, on aggregate in their own quarterfinal tie.

Park Min Ho drew first blood 35 minutes into the game, but the Korean received a second yellow card that led to an ejection for tackling Monsef Zerka late in the first half.

Trailing, 2-3, in the second half, the Sparks’ woes were compounded when Jang Jo Won, who scored the team’s second goal, wound up as the second casualty when he was sent off for lunging on a defender, leaving the Sparks with only nine men four minutes before stoppage.

Chad Gould scored the equalizing header off a free kick from Phil Younghusband in the 90th minute that, however, went for naught. 

spin.ph

Singapore Cup : Tanjong Pagar 2-1 Loyola

Singapore Cup , Quarterfinals first leg , Tanjong Pagar United vs Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc

Queenstown Stadium , Singapore at 8 Pm


Starting line up for Loyola Meralco Sparks FC (LMSFC)


Matthew Hartmann

James Younghusband (C)

Chad Gould

Philip Younghusband

Roxy Dorlas

Jang Jowoong

Park Min Ho

Jang Jowon

Jeong Byeongyeol

Baba Sampana (GK)

Peter Fadrigalan

-----------------------------------------

Update :

6 min Zerka 1-0 (Tanjong Pagar)
18 min Benahmed 2-0 (Tanjong Pagar)
25 min James Younghusband 2-1 (Loyola)
2-1 HT
2-1 FT

Loyola playing against Turkmenistan National team

Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc will play a international friendly against Turkmenistan NationalTeam .

They will play this Thursday at Emperador Stadium at 8pm

Younghusbands-less Sparks shine in UFL season opener

By Alder Almo

The Loyola Meralco Sparks came back from a one-goal deficit to open the new United Football League (UFL) season with a 4-1 win over Phil. Army on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The Sparks shrugged off the absence of their key stars scoring the last four goals of the match to run away with the season-opening win. 

Without the Younghusband brothers and starting keeper Ref Cuaresma, who are with the Azkals in Myanmar, Loyola groped for form at the start allowing Phil. Army to wrest early control.

The Troopers was the first to open fire courtesy of Relan Bretana’s goal in the 18^th minute mark. But 14 minutes later, the Sparks found the equalizer in a Freddy Gonzales’ header from a Mark Hartmann corner.

Gonzales’ first goal in a Sparks uniform opened the floodgates with three more of his teammates joining the scoring parade. Hartmann gave Loyola the lead via penalty kick before halftime.

Korean Jeong Byeong Yeol and Chad Gould padded the lead in the second half.

The Troopers were also missing their Azkals keeper Ed Sacapano, Boogie Margarse and Roel Gener.

philstar

UFL transfer - Freddie Gonzalez to Loyola Fc !

Last years UFL Div 2 goalscorer and former NT legend Freddie Gonzalez has signed for Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc from PachangaDiliman FC

Singapore Cup : Loyola Fc vs Gombak United

Third place match in Singapore Cup tomorrow at Jalan Besar Stadium , Singapore


Loyola Fc vs Gombak United , 5 pm  (Third place match)

Loyola Meralco trails S.League champs in Singapore Cup semis

The Loyola Meralco Sparks’ magical run in the Singapore Cup hit a snag Thursday night after they fell to S.League’s Tampine Rovers, 2-nil, in the first leg of their semifinals showdown in Clementi Stadium in Singapore City.

With James Younghusband nursing a fever and not starting, Loyola Meralco was not the same team that beat the Geyland United and Kanbawza FC in the early rounds.

And it showed against the S.League’s defending champions.

Without his brother, Phil Younghusband tried to carry the Sparks but could not unlock the Stags’ solid defense. Phil, however, beat his defender in the 22^nd minute but his cross did not find a teammate on the far post.

As the Sparks struggled, the Stags grew in strength.

After Loyola Meralco’s reinforcement Kim Woo-Chul was booked for a yellow card, Tampines took advantage.

The Stags’ 42-year old skipper Aleksandar Duric opened the scoring act in the 29^th minute.  The Bosnian striker latched onto a long ball and wisely lobbed it past Loyola keeper Ref Cuaresma to give the home team a 1-nil lead.

The Sparks failed to equalize even when James was fielded in the 37^th minute for Simon Greatwich as the Singapore’s top club took the one-goal lead at the break.

Even with the Younghusband brothers up front, the Sparks failed to score and worse, their defense yielded another goal.

The second blow came just five minutes into the second half when former Singapore national player Ahmad Latiff doubled the lead with a powerful finish from the edge of the box to the bottom corner.

Loyola Meralco appeared to pull one back shortly after but Kim’s free kick was nullified as the referee ruled he attempted before his whistle was blown.  The South Korean midfielder was booked for his second yellow card and was sent off, disqualifying him from playing in the all-or-nothing second leg on Sunday to be aired over AKTV on IBC-13 at 9pm. 

Not even the entry of Mark Hartmann in the 71^st minute for Anto Gonzales could swing the momentum to the Sparks, who lost Chad Gould to injury late in the match.

The Sparks will have to overhaul that two-goal deficit on Sunday at Jalan Besar Stadium to advance to the finals in their first ever international stint as a club.  

philstar

Singapore Cup - Tampines Rovers 2-0 Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc

Today in Singapore

Semifinal first leg in Singapore Cup

Tampines Rovers vs Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc

Clementi Stadium , 7.45 pm

TV : Channel 202 (Singapore)

Livescore : www.futbol24.com

Starting XI Loyola Fc : P. Younghusband , Kim , Jeong, Jang, Park , Kim ,Simon Greatwich, Chad Gould , Elnar , Dorlas, Gonzales and Ref Cuaresma

29 mins 1-0 Duric
38 mins James Younghusband in , Simon Greatwich out

1-0 HT

50 mins 2-0 Latiff,  Tampines

60 mins Kim (Loyola Fc ) two yellow cards, sent off
69 min Andres Gonzales out , Mark Hartmann in
84 min Jeong out, Jake Morallo in

2-0 FT

Second  leg is played on Sunday in Singapore

Friendly : Loyola Fc 2-0 Green Achers United

Loyola Fc won 2-0 against Green Archers United in  a friendly today.

Phil Younghusband scored both goals.

This is Loyola`s last friendly before S-Cup semifinals on 4 October against Tampines Rovers